Ann Arbor = Food + Fun

This successful formula continues enticing folks to visit this small but cosmopolitan town. With 225 restaurants, believe me – you won’t starve in Ann Arbor where it’s all about fun and food. Located only about half an hour from the Detroit Airport, it’s an easy 3 hour non-stop flight from San Antonio on Delta.

Since I’m not a morning person, a 7:00 a.m. flight is always a killer for me and that’s where La Quinta Inns & Suites comes in handy. It sure makes life a lot easier checking into La Quinta’s airport location the night before an early morning flight for a good night’s sleep and a complimentary breakfast before hoping the shuttle to the airport.

After a smooth flight, I was anxious to explore Ann Arbor and hit the ground running. I’ve heard raves about this little gem of a town and all it has to offer. After working up a robust appetite it was time to explore Ann Arbor’s legendary food scene.

Ann Arbor foodies and chefs have elevated food to an art form. Chefs, restaurant owners, and locals take their food seriously here….it ‘s almost like a religion. Ann Arbor offers an astounding variety of ethnic restaurants and American bistros to choose from.

Whether you eat at one of the inexpensive and tasty places near the University of Michigan or dine at one of the trendy upscale restaurants on Main street, you’ll find a smorgasbord of delectable offerings with anything from Ethiopian food at the Blue Nile, to creative Cuban inspired cuisine at Frita Batidos, gourmet northern Italian at Gratzi, or eclectic Asian at Pacific Rim.

The farm to table and slow food movement is so big here and it’s practically a religious cult. Chefs shop at the Kerrytown Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning to hand pick farm fresh veggies and ingredients and meet with their suppliers. Most of the produce is certified organic and several Amish families sell baked goods, while other growers sell flats of vibrant neon-colored begonias.

I ate my way around some of Ann Arbor’s finest restaurants and my taste buds were never disappointed. While each restaurant has its distinct vibe, ambiance, and flavor – the one common denominator is that all of the chefs are dedicated to using only the freshest ingredients, keeping the food simple and pure, and are not into pretentious architectural presentations.

Here’s an overview of some of my faves:

The potato and cheese pierogies at Ann Arbor Brewing Company taste like they came out of your Polish grandma’s kitchen. The mushroom pierogies are smothered in a heavenly creamy dill sauce. The Mediterranean plate and homemade sweet potato fries are excellent.

Zingerman’s Delicatessan is a local institution with an in-house bakery and primo deli. Bread making, pastry baking and cheese making classes are given at their South State Street Industrial Park location. Bake! – cations (fantasy camp for home bakers) is the ultimate experience for the serious foodie.

Award winning Chef Alex Young’s take on down home southern cooking at Zingerman’s Roadhouse is mighty tasty. He’s especially known for his unique twist on BBQ ribs and his 14 hour pit smoked pulled pork served with two killer sauces – Red Rage Tomato BBQ or South Carolina Mustard BBQ. Loved the rich creamy grits, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, and Southern Style Bacon-Braised Greens.

Gratzi’s pan fried eggplant served over a bed of homemade angel hair pasta is topped with the best tomato basil sauce. Save some room for their terrific tiramisu- it was perfect – light and fluffy and not saturated in booze – the secret’s in the mascarpone.

This is meant to be a light and fresh tasting sauce so we do not “cook it

all day” and we always garnish our tomato sauce dishes with fresh

basil.

Divine pan seared scallops delicately seasoned in a mild curry sauce are a signature dish at Logan – An American Bistro’s. Chef Thad Gillies’ heavenly chocolate mousse is more like a truffle on steroids. The asparagus tempura appetizer is fried to perfection – crunchy on the outside and just right on the inside.

Expect all kinds of interesting and unusual culinary surprises from Chef Brandon Johns at The Grange. Chef Brandon is an expert in the lost art of charcuterie. Fussy gourmets rave about his stuffed pig heads that literally fly out the door.

I never tasted branzino as moist and succulent as Café Zola‘s. The secret is cooking the fish ”en Papillote” (in a pouch) to lock in all of the natural juices and flavor. Their eclectic menu is a fascinating mish mash of earthy Turkish, fine French, and Mediterranean cuisine. It’s kind of like dining in the United Nations under one roof.

The menu choices are exotic, exciting, and enticing. Unusual dishes like the fish frita (fish burgers seasoned with fresh cilantro and lemon-scented mayo), batidos – creamy Cuban milkshakes in tropical flavors like passion fruit and coconut. The fresh ginger lime juice is simply irresistible. Churros served with rich thick chocolate are the epitome of decadence, but worth every single calorie!

There’s lots to do in Ann Arbor and even the most sophisticated urbanite won’t be bored. Gallery hopping and shopping is a fun after lunch activity. The Ark offers live performances in an intimate setting – it’s the perfect way to spend the evening after a delecious dinner at one of Ann Arbor’s 225 restaurants.